Clashes between Islamist factions in Hama and Idlib

A state of tension dominates Hama’s northern countryside and Idlib’s southern countryside due to the clashes erupted between Aqsa Soldiers militias and Sham Liberation Authority leading to the killing of at least 50 persons. The clashes came after an attack from Sham Liberation Authority against Aqsa Soldiers because the latter’s refusal to join it.

The current state of tension began on Friday in Hama, while it extended to Idlib’s southern countryside between the factions existed in these areas and Aqsa Soldiers militias. Sources revealed that the residents of the areas fear the militants’ control over their cities, as it could provide justification to governmental troops to bombard them.

Aqsa Soldiers militia managed to control a number of villages during the recent days, as it controlled eight villages and town in Hama’s northern countryside, while eight villages in Idlib’s southern countryside.

Fatah Al Sham decided in January to decode Aqsa Soldiers’ pledge of Allegiance while to keep “League of Islam”. Fatah Al Sham attributed its decision to Aqsa Soldiers’ refusal to respond the orders upon the principle of obedience. It added that they obtained information about differences between the members of Aqsa Soldiers and their Emir over his pledge of Allegiance to Fatah Al Sham.

Aqsa Soldiers concluded an agreement with Fatah Al Sham considering their pledge of allegiance as a dissolution of their militia to join Fatah Al Sham militia.

On the other hand, Syrian governmental troops bombarded Waar district in Homos and other areas in Rastan, Hula and the road linking between Keissen village and Borj Qaee in Homos’ northern countryside. Fighter jets raided areas in Palmyra Desert in Homos’ eastern countryside amid battles in different areas between the governmental troops and ISIS.

The clashes continued between Syria’s Democratic Troops supported by the International Coalition on one hand and ISIS militias on the other hand in Raqqa’s western countryside after the recent attack launched by the extremist group in the city.

The extremist group managed to achieve notable advance in a number of villages in Raqqa and other sites in Tabaqa’s northern countryside. Sources revealed that the battles left a large number of humanitarian losses among the fighters of Syria’s Democratic Troops and ISIS in addition to increasing injuries.

The battles in Raqqa’s western countryside began in the framework of the second phase of battles in which Syria’s Democratic Troops managed to achieve notable advance in both Raqqa and Tabaqa.

On the other hand, a child and a man have been killed during a bombardment from the governmental troops n Daraa countryside, as the clashes continue between the governmental troops and Islamist factions, including Fatah Al Sham in different cities of the country.

In the same context, the clashes continue between Euphrates Shield militias and Turkish troops on one hand and ISIS on the other hand in the northern side of Syria’s Al Bab city which considered one of ISIS major strongholds in Aleppo’s countryside.

The clashes coincided with the continuous raids from the Turkish troops against the strongholds of the extremist group in the Syrian city, as Euphrates shield troops advanced into the outskirts of the city in an attempt to besiege the extremist militias from the northern and western sides.

The clashes escalated between the governmental troops and ISIS in Aleppo’s eastern countryside, as sources revealed that the governmental troops, supported by Hezbollah militias, managed to control three villages.